The idea that there is such a thing as “addictive personality” is highly debatable in the medical community.  Most experts agree that there is no singular recipe for addictive behavior.  However, there are certain factors that can affect the likelihood of someone developing an addiction:

• Family history of addiction
• Gender (e.g., men are twice as likely as women to develop drug addiction)
• Anxiety, depression and loneliness
• Antisocial personality
• Low distress tolerance
• Difficulty delaying gratification
• Abuse or trauma in childhood
• Profound inconsistencies in parenting

If you recognize the signs of an addictive personality in yourself or someone you love, don’t fret. Just because you have the traits, doesn’t mean you’re destined to develop a problem with addiction.  If you are struggling with an addictive behavior, you’re not alone.  There are many treatment options available.  Hypnosis is one alternative approach.

The exact causes of drug and alcohol addiction are not fully known. Neither is there an exact remedy or cure for these ailments.  In fact, there are many treatment options available for drug/alcohol addition.  Hypnosis is one alternative approach.  Although hypnosis may not be a stand-alone treatment, when combined with other therapies, such as a 12-step program, hypnosis can be an extremely effective approach.

How Hypnosis Can Help In Relapse Prevention?

Hypnosis induces a mental state where the subject experiences increased relaxation and focus.  Due to the increased focus, the subject becomes more receptive to positive suggestions.  In a typical session, a hypnotherapist might give suggestions for:

• motivation to stick with the program;
• increased patience and feelings of worthiness,
• increased self-esteem and feelings of wholeness and serenity; and
• increased ability to regulate thoughts and emotions.

Internalizing such positive suggestions makes behavior modification more likely, and behavior modification is obviously a crucial component of relapse prevention.

Research Proving Hypnosis Works for Addictions

The following research shows hypnosis can be very effective in the treatment of drug & alcohol addiction:

• In a comparative study of hypnotherapy and psychotherapy in the treatment of methadone addicts, significantly more methadone addicts quit with hypnosis.  At six month follow up, 94% percent of the subjects who received hypnosis remained narcotic free.  (Manganiello AJ. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 1984; 26(4): 273-9).
• In a study on hypnosis for relapse prevention training with chronic drug/alcohol users, individuals who used self-hypnosis at least 3-5 times a week, at 7 week follow-up, reported the highest levels of self-esteem and serenity, and the least anger/impulsivity, in comparison to the minimal practice and control groups. (American Journal of Clinical Hypnotherapy 2004 Apr;46(4):281-97)
• In another recent study, clients who received hypnosis treatments over a 1 yr period showed a 77% chance of remaining drug/alcohol free. (American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis,  Jul 2004  by Potter, Greg)
• In a case study, where a female subject with a $500 a day cocaine habit used hypnosis 3 times a day for four months, the subject’s addiction was broken and she remained drug free for 9 years.  Hypnosis was the only intervention and no support network was available. (American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 1993 Oct; 36(2):120-3).